₦airaland Forum

A senior German Football Association (DFB) official has said it is time to begin serious discussions about a possible boycott of the 2026 World Cup following recent actions by United States President Donald Trump.

The tournament is scheduled to be hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, with 78 of the 104 matches set to take place in the US.

Tensions between the US and several European countries have risen after President Trump threatened to acquire Greenland, which Denmark controls.

He also warned of imposing tariffs on eight European nations, including Germany, that opposed the move. Although Trump later backed away from the tariff threat, relations remain strained.

According to BBC Sport on Saturday, DFB vice-president Oke Göttlich was quoted as saying,

“I really wonder when the time will be to think and talk about this [a boycott] concretely,” “For me, that time has definitely come.”

The French government has said it is not currently in favour of a boycott, while the Danish Football Association said it is “aware of the current sensitive situation.”

Denmark are hoping to qualify for the tournament through the play-offs.

Göttlich, who is also president of Bundesliga club St Pauli, compared the situation to the US-led boycott of the 1980 Olympic Games following the Soviet Union’s invasion of Afghanistan.

“What were the justifications for the boycotts of the Olympic Games in the 1980s?” he said. “By my reckoning, the potential threat is greater now than it was then. We need to have this discussion.”

Germany has previously been involved in disputes with FIFA over political expression at major tournaments. At the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, FIFA warned players they could be booked for wearing the OneLove armband, which was intended to promote diversity and inclusion.
In protest, German players covered their mouths during the team photograph before their opening match against Japan, with then-coach Hansi Flick saying the gesture symbolised that FIFA was “silencing” teams.

Reflecting on that episode, Göttlich questioned football’s stance on political issues.

“Qatar was too political for everyone, and now we’re completely apolitical?” he said. “That really bothers me. As organisations and as a society, we’re forgetting how to set boundaries and defend values.”

He added that he would like clarity on where those boundaries lie from both political leaders and football’s governing bodies, including the DFB and FIFA.

Mabuggi88:
If it is being done by MTN we won't hesitate to say that. Your factor will not prevent people from telling the truth and there's absolutely nothing you can do about it.
This is a federal government project done by the Nigeria's ministry of works from Nigeria's collective coffers not from Tinubu Pocket or anyone's pocket.
You are the bitter one here by the way

Bentacur007:
I like as e Dey sweet you
No come put mouth again where Fubara Dey oo
You biased

SisterAnn:
Your penchant for double standard is reason why nobody even in your WhatsApp group can take you serious.

You are here supporting Kano governor for betraying his mentor but crucified osunbande and Fubara for doing same.

NL is truly a cruise ship.

korrectcanada:
...
This time you talk true...but truth remains he is man of the people for the people and by the people....organic mandate

chatinent:
I don't. The same way I don't about your existence. Both you, him, Tinubu and etc., don't matter to me.

Have a nice century.

SisterAnn:
You have earned the right to wail. The fear of Peter Obi is the beginning of wisdom for Agbadorians.

Food4Thought:
Peter Obi never decamped to any political party with the people's mandate. That makes the difference. He has only decamped from one political party to another in search for a viable platform where he will contest in an election with a bid to win and to serve you and your family better than the current and previous governments have done. Next time when you want to site an example please go for an accurate and a suitable one.

thinkmoney:
Did he carry any party’s mandate to another party?

chatinent:
You must think I give a cold F about Obi.
I don't.

chatinent:
Political oloshoism pays esp when you are very corrupt.

TimeManager:
Why?, What happened?. Why were career nominees from Kebbi state all confirmed by the Senate while all non-career nominees from the same state were not in the final Senate list?.
Was it a legislative omission or a clerical negligence?. All non-career nominees from a state were missing?. This has to be investigated.

-Kiss the truth!

mrvitalis:
Buhari approved funding for later stages of those projects

Tinubu government has not approved a kobo to this project, not an single kobo... It's not their brainchild, how would a human be with sense attribute such a project to him?

Evaloyal2J:
your wrapped sense of judgement didn't tell that to you. meanwhile, bandits has been on rampage hacking every lfe they met benue, kogi, Kwara, niger Bornu, sokoto, zanfara virtually everywhere is going down and all that borders you is senseless politics. Wicked souls

Evaloyal2J:
the man na efulefu. A sellout for that matter